2015

Campaign against Fracking

April: GEAI hosted John Armstrong, Renee Vogelsang and Julia Walsh from FrackAction New York, successful New York campaigners who were at the forefront of the ban on fracking in New York State

September: GEAI Director Aedin McLoughlin was a member of an international delegation to Washington, Pennsylvania and New York State as part of the 2015 Fracking Tour organised by the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Germany. The delegation met decision makers from each state at the highest level, as well as visits to communities impacted by fracking

September: GEAI discovered that the Research Study on fracking research, administrated by EPA, is being carried out by CDM Smith (U.S. pro-fracking consultancy providing services to the oil and gas industry)and Amec Foster Wheeler (oil/gas industry consultant whose clients include BP, Shell, BR Petrobras, GDF Suez and ExxonMobil). Following this discovery, GEAI together with Fracking Free Network organised the successful STOP the STUDY Campaign.

October: Highly successful public Stop the Study meeting in Glenfarne

November: Stop the Study Rally outside Leinster House, followed by meeting with politicians in Leinster House. Also, GEAI took part in People’s Climate March.

December: Attended Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting with EPA.

Young people

Hosted EVS volunteers, Santi, Olga and Irina, for 12 months, ending August 2015. This experience was so successful that we decided to apply for fourth volunteer who will join us in January 2016.

Awarded accreditation as Erasmus+ Coordinating and Hosting organisation for four European volunteers.